Banzel (rufinamide) is a brand-name drug that’s prescribed for seizures due to Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) in adults and some children. Banzel comes as oral tablets and an oral liquid suspension and is typically taken twice per day.
Banzel is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat seizures due to Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) in adults and children ages 1 year and older. It’s approved to be used with other medications as an add-on treatment for seizures.
Banzel belongs to a drug class called antiepileptic drugs. Banzel is available in a generic version.
Keep reading for specific information about the dosage of Banzel, including its strengths and how to take the medication. For a comprehensive look at Banzel, see this article.
Note: This article describes typical dosages for Banzel provided by the drug’s manufacturer. When taking Banzel, always follow the dosage prescribed by your doctor.
Below is information about Banzel’s forms, strengths, and dosages.
Banzel forms
Banzel comes in two oral forms: an oral tablet and an oral liquid suspension.
Banzel strengths
Banzel oral tablets come in two strengths: 200 milligrams (mg) and 400 mg.
Banzel oral liquid suspension comes in one strength of 40 milligrams per milliliter (mg/mL).
Typical dosages
Typically, your doctor will start by prescribing you a low dosage. Then they’ll adjust it over time to reach the amount that’s right for you.
The following information describes dosages that are commonly prescribed or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.
Dosage for seizures associated with LGS
Doctors may prescribe Banzel to treat seizures due to LGS. The drug is typically taken with other drugs.
If your doctor prescribes Banzel for seizures, your starting dosage will likely be 400–800 mg per day. This dosage is typically divided into two doses per day. For example, if your total daily dose is 400 mg, you’ll take 200 mg twice per day.
Your doctor may recommend increasing your dosage by 400–800 mg every other day. If your starting dosage was 200 mg twice per day, your doctor may increase your dosage to 400 mg twice per day. They may continue to increase your dosage to a maximum of 3,200 mg per day. In this case, you would take 1,600 mg twice per day. This is the typical maximum recommended dosage of Banzel for people with LGS.
For more information about your specific dosage, talk with your doctor.
Children’s dosage
Banzel is approved to treat seizures due to LGS in children ages 1 year and older.
The dosage is based on the child’s body weight in kilograms (kg). One kg equals about 2.2 pounds (lb). The dosage per kg is measured in milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) and is calculated by your child’s doctor.
The recommended starting daily dose of Banzel in children is about 10 mg/kg given in two divided doses. For example, if your child weighs 20 kg (44 lb), their daily dose of Banzel will be 200 mg. They’ll take 100 mg twice per day.
Your child’s doctor may increase their dose by about 10 mg/kg every other day until a maximum of 45 mg/kg per day is reached. The maximum daily dose for children is 3,200 mg (1,600 mg taken twice per day).
Talk with your child’s doctor if you have questions about their dosage.
Long-term treatment
Banzel is meant to be taken as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that Banzel is safe and effective for you, you’ll likely take it long term.
Before you start taking Banzel, your doctor will discuss your treatment plan with you.
The Banzel dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on several factors. These include:
- your age
- your body weight
- how your body responds to Banzel
- the type and severity of the condition you’re taking Banzel to treat
- the form of Banzel you take
- other medications you take
- your liver and kidney function
Other medical conditions you have can also affect your Banzel dosage.
Dosage adjustments
Your doctor may start you on a lower dosage of Banzel if you take valproate (a medication to treat seizures and other conditions). This mediation can raise the level of Banzel in your body, which can increase the risk of side effects.
Some other seizure medications can also affect the level of Banzel in your body. To find out what drugs may interact with Banzel, see the drug’s prescribing information.
Your doctor may also need to adjust your dosage if you have liver damage or kidney disease or if you’re 65 years old or older.
Be sure to tell your doctor about all medications you take and any health conditions you may have.
Banzel comes as an oral tablet or an oral liquid suspension. The tablets may be cut in half or crushed if your doctor recommends it. The oral liquid suspension should be shaken well before you take a dose. It comes with syringes to measure out the correct dose.
Be sure to take your Banzel dose with a meal or snack.
It may be helpful to take Banzel around the same time of day. This helps maintain a steady level of the drug in your body so Banzel can work effectively.
If you have trouble swallowing tablets, see this article for tips on how to take this form of medication. You can also talk with your doctor or pharmacist. There are step-by-step instructions on the manufacturer’s website.
ACCESSIBLE DRUG LABELS AND CONTAINERSSome pharmacies offer labels with large print, braille, or a code you scan with a smartphone to convert text to speech. If your local pharmacy doesn’t have these options, your doctor or pharmacist might be able to recommend a pharmacy that does.
If you’re having trouble opening medication bottles, ask your pharmacist about putting Banzel in an easy-open container. They also may recommend tools that can make it easier to open bottles.
If you miss a dose of Banzel, ask your doctor or pharmacist whether you should take the missed dose or skip it. Don’t take two doses at once to make up for the missed dose.
To help make sure that you don’t miss a dose, try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm or putting a note where you’ll see it, such as on your bathroom mirror or bedside table. You could also download a reminder app on your phone.
It’s important that you don’t take more Banzel than your doctor prescribes. For some medications, taking more than the recommended amount may lead to harmful effects or overdose.
If you take more than the recommended amount of Banzel
Call your doctor right away if you believe you’ve taken too much Banzel. Another option is to call America’s Poison Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. If you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.
Below are some frequently asked questions about Banzel.
How long does it take for Banzel to start working?
Banzel starts to work after your first dose. Because of how the drug works, you likely won’t feel the drug working in your body. But your doctor will monitor you during treatment to check whether the drug is working to treat your condition. You may also want to keep track of your seizures to see whether Banzel is helping to reduce them.
Talk with your doctor if you have questions about what to expect with Banzel treatment.
What is the recommended maximum dosage of Banzel?
The maximum dosage of Banzel that’s recommended is 3,200 mg per day. Typically, this dosage is divided into 1,600 mg taken twice per day. For details about Banzel dosages, see the “Banzel dosage” section above.
If you have questions or concerns about your dosage of Banzel, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. If it seems like you need a higher dosage, ask your doctor whether a dosage increase is right for you. Do not increase your dosage unless your doctor recommends doing so.
The dosages in this article are typical dosages provided by the drug’s manufacturer. If your doctor recommends Banzel for you, they will prescribe the dosage that’s right for you. Always follow the dosage that your doctor prescribes.
As with any drug, never change your dosage of Banzel without your doctor’s recommendation. If you have questions about the dosage of Banzel that’s best for you, talk with your doctor.
Besides learning about dosage, you may want other information about Banzel. These additional articles might be helpful:
- More about Banzel: For information about other aspects of Banzel, refer to this article.
- Side effects: To learn about side effects of Banzel, see the prescribing information.
Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.